Turkish Airlines plane enters Newark runway without clearance

A Turkish Airlines Airbus A350-900, operating flight TK30 from Newark Liberty International Airport to Istanbul, entered an active runway without authorization on the morning of September 15, 2026.

According to air traffic control records, the crew was instructed to taxi via taxiway B to runway 4L. However, the aircraft instead used taxiway N to enter the runway. The incident prompted immediate intervention from tower controllers. While the aircraft was positioned near the runway, a Delta Air Lines flight was permitted to land on the same runway.

Discussions regarding the incident suggest the runway incursion may have been a pilot error or a result of confusion regarding air traffic control instructions. Some reports have questioned whether the use of non-standard phraseology by controllers contributed to the misunderstanding.